Climbing device



May 25 1926.

R. LABORDA CLIMBING DEVICE v Filed June I9, 1925 2 ysneetsfshekem May 25,1926. 1,585,925

R. LABORDA CLIMBING DEVICE v Filed June 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Shet 2 1 InI1mmuuuluumm Patented May 25, 1926.

entre RICHARD LABORDA, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CLIMBING DEVICE.

This invent-ion relates to climbing devices, particularly for use in clim-hing substantially vertical columns. It is intended that the improved climbing device may vbe used in the place of movablev stepladdcrs; in stores etc., in order to provide a handy device for the person seeking an article to reach its location. Stepladders accumulate a certain amount of dust and dirt on the rungs, and are to a certain extent insanitary. Stepladders also take up considerable room, and any weakness in the rungs makes it unsafe. The disadvantageous features are overcome by my inventio The embodiments of the invention will lappear in the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used to designate correspending parts in the several figures:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section and broken away showing climbing def vices in accordance with the present invention applied to a vertical column;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the column and climbing devices disclosedv in Figure 1 turned through an angle of 90o;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 4*4 on Figures 2 and 9;

Figure 5 is a Jfragmentary side View of a portion of the climbing member shown at the bottom of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 6 6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 isa similar sectional view showing` parts in a changed position;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of parts disclosed in Figures 6 and 7; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2. y

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 a vertical pedestal comprising a tubular shaft 10; to which the climbing devices lin accordance with this invention are applied, is shown for the purpose of illustrating an application of the present invention. This shaft is supported at its lower end by means of a roller 11, and its upper end by means of a roller 12 which engioes a rail 1 l (La u 13. The construction herein represented 1s .particularly adapted for store use in which.

`App10atcn filed .June 19,

1925. Serial No. 38:211.

it is necessary to climb up to the shelves at various elevations along a side wall. 1While in the specific construction the tubular shaft is disclosed in a substantially. vertical position, the invention is Aequally applicable to columns disposed in other than upright positions.

The climbing mechanism comprises, primarily, a pair of steps or pedal members 14 and 15 which are mounted on side guide members 16 and 17 'by means of supporting pivots 18 and 19; these pedal members are normally arranged to be in a substantially horizontal position. In the climbing operation the feet of the'operator tilt these members back and forth on their pivots; and during such tilting actions the pedals successively apply and release brakes which operate to grip the column fer supporting the members at the various eleva-tions'.

It will be noted that the guide members, 16 and 17, comprise channels which engage the sides of the column, the side portions of the channels overlapping the edges of the column and extending toward each other. These members are preferably provided with anti-friction rollers, 20, at their upper ends, and similar rollers, 21; at ltheir lower ends whereby the members will freely pass along the vertical shaft. At the lowerends of-each of the guide members, the rear side thereof is pressed outwardly as at 22. and within the depression formed thereby is 4positioned a friction brake element, 23, such as bra-ke lining material in common use. this brake material .rides free from the column. In conjunction with each of the pedal members is a roller 24, disclosed on the lower side thereof, so as to enga-ge the column when the pedal is depressed and to causethe brake material 23 to rmly grip the rea-r side of the column and hold the' guide member against movement longitudinally of the vcolumn.

Above the guide members 1G and 17, on the shaft 10, is a collar 25 which slidingly engages the shaft. On the lower. portion of this collar is pivoted a supporting sprocket wheel 26 over which passes a sprocket chain 27. The ends of the sprocket chain 27 are connected with the upper ends ofthe guide members 16 and 17. To the upper portion of the collar 25 is secured another chain 28 which extends upwardly and over a sprocket wheel 129 mounted, on lthe upper .end of 'the Normally,

extends between the chain 2S and the rail 13- and prevents the roller 12 'trom being accidentally dislodged 'trom the rail 13.

The collar is provided with brake mechanism SSwhieh is more spceilieally shown in Figure 3. This brake mechanism pretn erably comprises a portion ot th-e collar surrounding the sli-att. and split longitudially of the shaft at a point 34, whereby a band brake is formed ot the upper portion ot the collar. On each side oi the slit 4 is a lever member 35 pivoted at the points 3G. These levers are pivoted together adjacent to the collar at 37, and a spring 38 is positioned between their outer ends, whereby the levers normally operate to cause the brake to grip the shail't 10 and preve: t longitudinal movement ot the collar there along, thus supporting the climbing` mechanism which is connected with it in a fixed position.

The collar may also be provided with a bracket 39 for supporting a basket 40. rlhi s basket is carried by the collar in such a position as to be accessible to an 'operator on the climbing mechanism.

As shown in Figure 2, the guide members 16 and 17 are prevented from lateral displacement Yfrom the shaft 1() by means of yoke members 41. These members comprise side projections 42 secured to the guide member 17, projecting beyond the opposite side et the guide member 16 and carrying a roller 43 which engages the outside ot the guide member 1G so as to prevent lateral displacen'ient, but allowing free longitudinal movement of the members with respect to each other between limits. t will be noted that the yoke members 41 are pesitioned on the guide member 17 about inidway of its length. rlhe roller 43 on the yoke engaging the outer side or' guide member 16 permits relative movement ol" the members between the mounting ot roller 20 on its upper end and the mounting tor pedal 14 at its lower end. This limited movement of the members permits the pedals to be moved so that they are alternately a foot above and below each other in the climbing operation.

Yoke members 41 are provided with locking means to prevent the reciprocating movement et the pedals along ldie shat't 10 with respect to each other. rihis locking means consists of' a ,lug 44 provided with a button or handle 45 for turning it, and is carried by a spring 4G connected with the projecting member 42. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the lug 44 is provided with a sidewise projecting pin 45 which is adapted to pass freely through a slot 47 to the side ot aperture 47 in the projecting member 42. so that the lug will cooperate with any one oi a series ot apertures 48 in the guide members 16. As shown in Figure '.7, when it is desired to allow the guide members .lll and 17 to operate freely with respect to cach other. the lug may be withdrawnv by manipulation ot the button 45 and the pin 45 is turned so as to engage the outer side ot the member 42 to hold the projection out ot engage ment from the apertures in the guide meniber 16. In Figure 8 it will be noted that the button 45 is provided with an indicatingv arrow 49, so as to show when the button in position for locking the guide members.

In the operation of the climbing mechanism the operator stands on the two pedals 14 and 15, and grips the levers 35 so as to release the brakes during the climbing movement. Assuming that he wishes to go up, by placing his weight on the outer portion ot the pedal 15 the guide 17 is held stationary on the shalt 10 by the operation ot the brake mechanism 22, 23 and 24 for this guide member into gripping engagement with the shaft 10. The brake levers being held in released position, the counter weight 30 operates on the chain 28 to raise the collar 25 and thereby raise the guide member 16 and its pedal 14 upwards. By transferring the weight of the operator to the outer portion of pedal 14 the guide member 17 with its pedal 15 is raised in a similar manner, and the operation may be continued until the operator is at the desired height. In any position, when the operator wishes to remain stationary he may allow the lever members 85 to operate the brake portion oi the collar 25 to hold the same in gripping position. He may also lock the two pedal members at the same height by operation ot the button so as to cliect a, locking engagement between the two `guide members atl'orded by the projection 44 passing through one ot the series ot apertures 48. lWhen it is desired to descend, this may be accomplished by the reverse operation o'f the pedal mechanism, and by the operation ot the brake levers 35 whereby the entire climbing mechanism is allowed to slide downwardly on the shaft 10. ln the latter case it is desirable to provide a shock absorbing spring in the upper portion oi the shaft 10 with which the counterweipli- 30 will engage as the climbing mechanism approaches the bottom ot the shaft whereby the climbing mechanism will be brought to a stop smoothly and without a jar at the bottom of the shaft.

I have described the counterweight et a weight substantially equal to the movable mechanism, but the weight can be made heavier, so as to raise the mechanism and 4the` user on the release of the clamping means, and thus aid the user in hisupward climbing. Instead of using two pedalsiand guide members only one can be used andthecounterweight would be suitably weighted in which case the hands would be suitably applied to aid in the climbing' action. So for instance, twotubular meirbers,V eachmwith kone counterweight and one pedal could be placed in proximity with each other, and utilized to climb. For entirely vertical purposes, this has certain advantages.

My invention is sanitary in that only the pedals become soiled and take up very little room, and at the same time is safe. It can be readily made, and is always ready for use. At the same time its use is expeditions.

Having thus described the invention, it is obvious that various changes in shape, proportion and arangement of parts may be made within the scope of this invent-ion as set forth in the annexed claims.

What is claimed as the invention and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A climbing device comprising a support, members slidably mounted on opposite sides of said support, a counterweight, and connecting means between said members and the counterweight including a flexible element attached at its ends to the respective members and permitting of their alternate sliding movement in the same direction along the support.

2. A climbing device comprising a support, members slidably mounted on opposite sides of said support, a counterweight, and connecting means between said members and the counterweight including a collar slidable upon the support, a flexible connection between said collar and the counterweight, and a common means connecting` saidmembers to said collar for movement with said collar and independently of each other along the support.

3. A climbing device comprising a support, members slidably mounted on opposite sides of said support, a counterweight, and connecting means between said members and the counterweight including a collar slidable upon the support, a flexible connection between said collar and the counterweight, and means connecting said members with said collar and permitting of a variable length of movement of said members with the collar along the support.

4. A climbing device comprising a support, members slidably mounted on opposite sides of said support, a counterweight, and connecting means between said members and the counterweight including a collar slidable upon the support, a flexible connection between said collar and the counterweight, and a single flexible element attached at its ends to saidmcmbers and movably connected with said collar to permitVA of a variable lengt'hof sliding movement ofsaid. members along the support. Y

5. A climbing device comprising a support, climbing members slidably mounted upon opposite sides of the support and each having a manually operable friction brake means to engage the support and hold said members against sliding movement on the support, a counterweight, and means connecting said members with the counterweightand permitting of an alternate, progressive, variable length of sliding movement of said members in thesame direction along the support.

6. A climbing device comprising a support, climbing elements mounted for sliding movement along opposite sides of the support, a member spaced from said climbing elements, slidably engaged with the support, and provided with manually releasable means normally holding said member against sliding movement, a counterweight and a flexible connection between said counterweight and said member, relatively movable connecting means between said climbing elements and said member, and a manually controllable braking means associated with each of the climbing elements and cooperating with the support to hold said elements against sliding movement thereon.

7. A climbing device comprising a support, a climbing` member mounted for sliding 'movement along said support, a manually operable friction brake for holding said climbing member in any adjusted position upon the support, a counterweight, and connecting means vbetween said climbing member and the counterweight including a part slidable on the support and having a releasable friction brake coacting with the support to normally hold said part against sliding movement, a flexible connection between said part and the counterweight, and a second flexible connection between said part and the climbing device.

8. A .climbing device comprising a support, a pair of climbing members mounted for sliding movement on said support and each having a manually operable friction brake to engage the support and hold said member against sliding movement, a counterweight, and means connecting said counterweight with the climbing members including a part slidable on the support and connected with said counterweight, and a single flexible element attached at its ends to the climbing members and movably connected with said part.

9. A climbing device comprising a tubular shaft, a pair of guide members slidingly mounted along opposite sides of the shaft, pedal members on said guide members, neans for gripping the shaft associated with said pedals and guide members by the operation of the pedals, and a Counterweight Within the tubular shaft having` Connections with said guide members for raising them.

10. A. climbing device comprising a longitudinal suppoitingl member, a pair of guide members slidingly mounted along the sides of said supporting member and adapted for movement along said supporting member with respect to each other, pedal members on said guide members, means Jfor gripping the supporting member associated with said pedals and guide members by the operation of the pedals and means for limiting' the relative longitudinal movement of said guide members With respect to each other. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

RICHARD LABORDA. 

